Metal container



.Il ml, 1945. I l c. E. Mc'MANus E-rm.1 2,367,300

METAL CONTAINER Filed April 27, 1942' 2 Sheets-Shadi'. l

f", gli@ 3 lrespectively of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is lan enlarged vertical section of the i menieaian. 16,1946- UNITED STATES I PATENT l OFFICE 2,367,360 METAL CONTAINER Charles E. McManus,

spiing Lake, N. J., and

Wiltie I. Gladfelter,-Phlladelphia, Pa., assignors `to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltivlmore', Md., a corporationiof New York Application April v2v, 194,2,1sriai No. 440,672

. v 16 Claims. j The present invention relates to nietal containfers suchg'as-arev employed for beverages'medieines, fchemi'cals, foodstuffs,A and other 'similar types of: Icommodities. y i n 1 Ari-object' of the invention is the provision of acontainer of this character in which-the top is provided with an integral end or closure having a scored or weakened areacapable of being ruptured or severed'by a. can opening tolol. A further object is to provide a metal'con'- tainer having an integral' r 1non-removable closure provided' with'` a score line or, analogous weakened portion formed in thetop surface there,- of.J and substantially enclosing a, portion of the closure but leaving. an unscored section between the ends ofthe score .linel Associated with .the

score .line is an indented recesslocated below and inv line with the unscored sectionA of the closure and constituting a guide and fulcrum point for receiving` an endv of a can .opening tool whereby the tool may be quickly. and accurately applied to the can f-tO: rupture the weakened area 'withinvv the score line and permit discharge of the con-A tents of the container;

' Another object isthe provision -of a container' of this character having a neck integrally connected to the scored closure, said neck Abeing provided with an indented recess an'd also having a screw threaded area either above, below or within ,the connes of the recess, whereby a. threaded closure may be applied to the neck subsequent', to

the rupturing of the integral closure to permit resealing of the container. Y With the foregoing and other objects iniview,

' the invention will now bezmore particularly described, referen'cebeing had -to`the accompanying drawings in which: v i I 'Figure 1 is aside elevation of one embodiment y ofthe present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are top and bottom plan views container shown in'Figure 1. I Y Figure 4a is a fragmentary viewV of the top l.and bottom sections of 'a pair -of cans showing them in nestedrelation'i i' Figurel 5 lis a modification lshowing Figure 5a shows a screw threaded closure to be, applied to the neck of thev container shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a further modification in which threadson the neck terminate belowthe top of @aseme- Aeil-vertical section through the top portion ofthe container 4and in which a screw threaded neck is provided.

Figure 9l isfafurther i'nodii'c'ation showing the v" made from'a single 1o canbody', top and closure piece of material, and Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view through a portion offthe top of the container to show the scor ing. l5 Containers in accordance with the present invention are preferably constructed of relatively thin sheetl metal; Such as tin' plate or steel. -Ite'- ferring to Figures 1 to 4a there is disclosed lone embodiment of the presentinventi'on in which,

'20 the numeral I0 designates generally the container 1 having a body I I of substantially cylindrical for.- niation, a top I2 and a, bottom I3. Both the bottom and top are preferably secured to'the body by the usual double s eam ljoint. g The top I2 is formed from a single blank and consists of a tapered or frusto-conical portion I4, aoentrally disposed integral neck I5, and a closure I6* integral with the neck. Referring par- "3'0 that yi-,l'ieclojsure I6 merges into the neck and is substantially Vfiat within the connes'of the to form a circular score line I] which substantially.encloses a portion of the closure. but leaves 1 an unscored section between the ends of the score line. .That is,-the ends I8 ofthe score line terminate at spacedpoints (see Figure 2) to provide an unscored section i9` whichconstitutes a hinge I' 40 to permit theoircular scoredor weakened area is ruptured; Itis to be understood that while the score' line II has been described as .being substantially circular in formation, the invention is not limited to any specific con'guration or formation so long as the score. line encompasses an area which can be ruptured and depressed to provid a pouring opening in the closure. Y

The neck is' isaprovided with anindenied rthev score line, and which in-'direct'alignment with the unscored section I9 ofthe closure. This Y recess 'constitutes a guide and fulcr'um point for.

a can opening tool. 2l shown' in dotted linesi'n se 4.". While any particular. type 0f. can crear.

terminate above the bottom.

ticularly to Figures 1 and 4, it will' be observedsame, presenting a continuous uninterrupted top surface. This top surface of the closure is scored- Ato be bent down within the neck when the closure' cess 20 slightly below the top thereof and below` vapplying the tool 2|.

ing toolv may be utilized, the one shown in the drawings and designated by the numeral 2-| is preferred, since it. is particularly adapted to quickly and easily rupture the closure I6. Tool 2| is provided with a shank 22, a lug 23, and a hooked top portion 24 terminating in a substantially blunt, end 25, the latter being adapted to be received within the indented recess 20.

With -a container having a top and integral closure constructed as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the closure may be easily and quickly ruptured by In view of the fact that the indented recess 20 is located below the score line and in line with the unscored portion I9, the tool may be quickly and accurately applied to the neck and closure of the container in the vposition shown in dotted lines in Figure/'4. 'In

this position, it will be noted that the lug 23 is in contact with the top surface of the closure just within the score line and at a point diametrically opposite the unscored section i9. By applying downward'pressure on the shank 22 the tool will easily rupture the portion of the closure withinthe score line and bend this portion downwardly within and to one side ofthe neck to forma pouring opening to permit the contents of the container to be dischargediherefrom.

It is to be understood that the opening tool 2| is merely representative of one type of tool which may be utilized in rupturing the closure |6. The present container is also designed to accommodate the type of open tool wherein the hook which engages the indented recess is located intermediate the end of the shank and in which the end of the tool will contact the weakened area of the closure in place of the lug 23.

It will be observed that the bottom |3 of the container is of concave formation which strengthens the container to resist high internal pressures. Furthermore, since the neck I5 and closure I6 are" of reduced height, the con- Referring now to Figures 5 and 5a, the conbe observed that the depressed area 30 forms an annular nat surface 30 which cooperates with the closure 34 to provide an eiective seal.

Figure 6 illustrates a further modication .which differs from that shown in Figure 5 in that the neck 35 is provided with a screw thread 36 terminating below the indented recess 37.'

That is, the recess 31 is above and entirely clear of the screw thread 36. As in the form shown in Figure 5, the recess 3'| does not interfere with` the 4function of the thread 36 and the eiiciency of each is not affected by the relative position of the other.

.Figure 7 shows an additional modication in which the neck 38 is provided with a screw thread 39 terminating above the lower end of the neck and also above the indented recess 40. Thus, in this arrangement as in the `forms shown in Figures 5 and 6, the indented recess does not interfere with the function of the screw thread 39. It is to be understood, of course, that with each different construction it may be necessary to change the contour of the opening tool so that the hooked end and the lug will be correctly proportioned to accommodate the particular recess and closure. In other words, the hooked end portion of the opening tool shown in Figure 2 must necessarily be somewhat enlarged to accommodate the modication shown in Figure '7 wherein the recess 40 is at a greater distance from the top of the neck than that disclosed in Figure 2.

Figure 8 shows a modication which is particularly adapted to' accommodate the usual crown cap.' In this arrangement the neck 4| is provided with a reduced area 'or ring 42 directly bel low the integral closure 43. 'Ihe indented-recess tainer top `26 is formed with a conical portion 2'| merging into a'neck-ZB which-is of greater height than the neck l5 of the `embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4. This neck is formed integrally with 'a closure 29 provided with`| an interiorly arranged slightly depressed area 30. Thisarea isformed with a score line 3| similar to the score line in that the ends of the score line terminate at spaced points to provideV an unscored section. An indentedl recess' 32 is formed in the neck below the closure and score line and in line with the unscored portion of the closure for the same purpose as that described above with respect to Figures 1 to 4. 'This type of container is designed so that it may be resealed and used subsequent to the rupturing of the integral closure `29. In this connection the neck is provided with a screw thread 33 which passes through the area of the recess 32. However, the screw threads do not interfere with the function of the recess, nor does the recess intertere with the function of Athe screwthread; In other Words, after the closure 29 has been ruptured by a can opening tool to depress the weakened area, a screw closure 34 is adapted to be applied to the neck and screwed` down upon the screwthread 33 to provide a tight and effective seal for the contents of the container. It will -vided with a, substantially circular score line 44 is located within the area of the reduced ring 42 but does not in any` manner impair or interfere with the sealing functions of the crown cap 45 which is adapted to be applied to the neck after the scored portion of the) integral closure 43 has been ruptured. 1

Figure 9 illustrates an additional modification which is quite similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, except that the body 46, conical top 4'|,

neck 48 ,and closure 49 are all formed from a single piece of material. The means for effecting rupture ofthe container are the same as those described above, in that the closure 49 is proand an indeited recess 5| which is below and in line with the unscored portion of the closure.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown and described is illustrative of the preferred embodiment and that such changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A metal container having a top provided with a neck, a closure integral with the neck, and a score line formed in the top surface of the closure and substantially enclosing a portion of the closure but leaving an unscored section between the ends of the score line, said neck having an indented recess below and in line with the unscored section of the closure, the Side walls of said recess terminating substantially within the confines of the unscored section whereby the recess constitutes a. guide and fulcrum point for a. can opening tool.

enclosing a portion thereof but leaving a small unscored' section between :the ends o! the line, said container having an indented recess below and in line with the unscored section o! the closure, the side walls o f said recess terminating substantially within the connes of the unscored sect'io'n whereby therecesslconstitutes a guide and iulcrum point for a can opening tool.

3. A'metal container having a top provided with a neck, a. closure integral with the neck, a score lline formed in the top surface of the closure andJ substantially enclosing a portionl oi' the closur/e but leaving a small unscored section between the ends of the score line, said neck having a screw thread terminating below the top of the neck and" adapted to receive a screw threaded closure, said neck havingan indented recess located between the screw threadand closure and in line with the unscoredsection pf the closure, the vside walls of said recess terminating substantially within the connes of the unscored section whereby the recess constitutes .'a guide and fulcrum point for a can opening tool.

4. A metal container having a top -provided with a neck, a closure integral lwith the neck, a

score line formed in the top surface of the closure and substantially enclosing a portion of the closure but leaving a small unscored section be-v tween the ends of the score line, said neck having a screw thread extending to the top oi.' the neck contines ofthe section'Sivliereby` therecan opening tool. l 5. A metal" container cess constitutes a, guide andfulcrum pointfor `a closure but leaving a .sma11 unscoredv section between the ends of the score `line,I said neck having a screw thread extending" downwardly from the top of theneck, and terminating labove t elower portion ci the neck,said' neck having an dented i recess located below the screw thread and in line withvthe-nsc'ored section of the closurethe side wallsv of said recess terminating substantially within the confines of the unscored section whereby -the recess .constitutes a guide' and fulcrum x point for a can opening tool.

6.-A metal container Vhaving a top provided with a neck, a closure integral vwith the neck. a score line formed in the top surface of the closure and substantially enclosing a portion ofthe and adapted to receive a screw threaded'closure,

said neck having an indented recess located in the screwthread below and in line with the unfr/scored section of the closure, the side walls of said recess terminating substantially within the closure but leaving a small unscored section be-f tween the ends of the score line, said neck having a reduced ring directly below the closure to form a cap receiving bead,.said neck having an `indented recess located in the area of the reduced ring and in line with the unscored section of the closure, the side walls of said` recess terminating substantially withinzthe coniines of the unscored section whereby the recess constitutes a guide and fulcrumpoint for a can opening tool.

CHARLES E.' McMANUs. WILTIE I. csf i.AnFELTaR.v

v having al. top provided with a neck, a closure integral with the neck,a

score line formed in the top surface yof the closure and substantially enclosing-a portion of the.y 

